Childhood Obesity Ads Serve Up Truth With A Side Of Guilt

As health care costs increase along with portion sizes, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta has decided to tackle the problem full-on in a series of ads that expose the problem.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has more:

Using tools such as television commercials and billboards late this year, the campaign has offered stark black-and-white images of overweight children sharing bold and often uncomfortable messages. In one, a child named Bobby sadly asks his obese mother, “Mom, why am I fat?” His mother simply sighs heavily and the commercial fades out.

Some public health experts, however, say the approach could be counterproductive when it comes to childhood obesity. The commercials and billboards do not give families the tools they need to attack the problem, some critics say. Others say the images will simply further stigmatize obesity and make it even less likely for parents and children to acknowledge that their weight is unhealthy and should be addressed.

Grey in Atlanta originally created the ads, while Fitzgerald + Company is continuing the campaign. There’s also a Facebook page as well for more discussion.